Summer 2020 was a very special summer for travel. While Bertrand chose not to travel, I decided to give it a try, with a superb itinerary to the US from Budapest for €740 in Business on Air France, KLM and Delta.
But then the epidemic came and strengthened in the US, and the borders remained closed. In any case, I wouldn’t have risked a trip to the United States with so many cases. As a result, my wife and I had to resign ourselves to having the ticket reimbursed, and settle for a Schengen destination.
So it’s Palma de Mallorca for 9 nights, then Seville for 4 nights, which neither my wife nor I know, but which Bertrand has already introduced to you in a travel diary, and in his report on the Alfonso XIII.
This is our itinerary:
We made the booking on the Iberia website. I had a discount coupon and we wanted to book in Business to be sure of the social distancing. We had several options: Lufthansa but with horrible schedules, Air France but with Economy at the price of Business on LH or IB, or Iberia and its €860 for two, open-jaw.
Arrival at the airport and check-in
We set off from our home in the 15th arrondissement at around 10am, i.e. 2.5 hours before the flight’s departure time, with a certain margin due to the uncertainty of crowds following the COVID-19.
I now use Wheely for airport transfers. The service is always perfect, the cars impeccable.
We arrive at Orly at around 10:30, where only terminals 3 and 4 are open (the former Orly-Sud and the new junction building).
Iberia is temporarily operating in Terminal 3 instead of Terminal 1, and is therefore using part of the check-in counters traditionally used by Air France.
Signage is quite poor, and the priority lane is not indicated. As a result, everyone uses it, and the poor check-in agent finds himself policing access to this queue, due to the lack of signage. Really not good.
So we waited a good quarter of an hour before being able to check-in our luggage (in 30 seconds, you really wonder what people do when they’re at the counter for more than 5 minutes…).
Once we’ve received our boarding passes and baggage receipts, we head for gate 1. No worries here, the fast track is open and we pass through security in 2 minutes flat.
At Orly, there is currently no lounge open to Iberia passengers, so we’re going to wait over a coffee in the food court on the 1st floor (a very nice, high-quality establishment, by the way).
Note that the telephone network is now as bad at Orly as at Roissy… How is this possible in an international airport in a developed country? I’d have to connect to Wifi to communicate.
Boarding
Our Iberia flight boarded in the connecting building. The boarding areas are therefore very spacious. But here too, there are no signs to indicate which lane we should take.
The crew arrived a little late, but we boarded 5 minutes later than the theoretical boarding time.
I ask the charming flight attendant who checked us in if Busines passengers can board, as boarding begins by rows 19 to 30. She tells me “yes, of course” and we board our flight to Madrid.
We’ll have to wait a few minutes in the jetway before accessing the aircraft.
Cabin and welcome
The welcome is absolutely charming, with the cabin attendant smiling behind his mask, and the Business flight attendant handing out disinfectant wipes.
During boarding, small garbage bags are distributed to limit contact with the crew.
The seats are identical to those installed on British Airways… They are slim, but padded to provide comfort. As usual on European medium-haul Business, the middle seat is neutralized.
A power outlet and USB socket are available at each seat in the Business cabin (first 3 rows of each A320).
It should also be noted that the toilets remained immaculate throughout the flight, with the crew making regular rounds, preventing Economy passengers from using the Business toilets.
Service and catering
Contrary to Iberia’s reputation for poor service, I have to admit that I was very pleasantly surprised.
Service begins once the “fasten seatbelt” signal has been switched off. Iberia normally offers a very nice meal on this route, with a hot dish and real crockery.
Since COVID, this service has been almost non-existent, with a bottle of water and a few almonds. But for the past few days, a cold snack box has been served. It’s not the menu of the century, but it feeds its man because the elements are quality. The crew apologizes for not serving the normal service, and says it will return in the following days.
The service is perfect, the flight attendant kneels to speak and the drinks are served with great elegance. The Rioja wine served in Business is simply delicious. But driving afterwards, I’ll settle for this mignonette.
A refill or coffee is offered when clearing away. Coffee is served very elegantly, with a small tray, milk, sugar, sweetener, and always with extreme politeness.
A very pleasant surprise!
Arrival and disembarkation
Arrival will be on time, and the crew will strictly enforce disembarkation by row, a good thing to avoid the mess that spreads COVID!
Bottom line
A very good flight on Iberia in Business, probably because my expectations were low. But the crew was just perfect, which made up for the mediocre service.
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